THE ELEPHANT CAVE – best dive site in Crete

Our diamond, and unique dive site is the amazing “Elephant Cave”. Since operating the dive center, this dive site has been rated from experienced divers from all around the globe as one of their top 10 best dive sites around the world.
The submarine Cave of Elephants is located in Drepano area of Akrotiri, in Chania prefecture and out of Souda Bay.
For this dive site, we gather up in our dive center no2 located in Georgioupolis, right in front of the Kalivaki beach.


History of the Elephant cave:

A cavern of stunning beauty was the last home of a group of rare elephants that lived in Vamos, thousands of years ago. When the sea level rose, an unsurpassable wall of water blocked the access to this stunning natural monument, protecting it from man’s destructive interference.

A series of incredible coincidences and games of fate had to happen for the cave to be discovered and explored, in year 2000. It was accidentally discovered by a local fisher during underwater fishing.

Stunning combinations of white and red stalagmites and stalactites cast a spell to every diver been there. It was a unique discovery, as the laboratory and the scientific announcements that followed, have proved. The elephant of the cave had characteristics that have not been found anywhere else. And so scientist gave it the name “Elephas Chaniensis”.

After detailed search, all of the bones that were not stuck to the caver’s floor were taken to department of Historic Geology and Paleontology of the University of Athens. As it was proven the fossils bones belonged to elephants and deer.  Taking under consideration the data collected, the age of the Cretan Elephant estimate somewhere between 50.000 and 60.000 years  old.

DESCRIPTION

The caverns entrance is 3,5 to 10 metres deep and is about 9 metres wide. Dark and mysterious, it is only a few metres away from the – vertical at this point- seashore.

THE CEILING

Emerges from the water, 40 metres away from the caver’s entrance. It’s highest point is 13 metres above the surface.

THE STATIGRAPHY

The upper layer consists mostly of dwarf deer and micro mammals. In the underlying layers we find Elephas Chaniensis and normal deer bones. Two molars attached to the cave floor, 3m below water surface

THE BOTTOM

Its entire surface is covered by water. The depth ranges from a few centimetres to 4m.

THE DIMENSIONS

The main cave chamber is 120m long and its average width is 25m. The caves overall length is 160m long.

THE COLOR RED

Gorgeous white and red formations decorate the ceiling and floor.
The red stalagmites owe their colour to the amount of aluminium and iron oxide contained in the caverns stratum.

Please feel free to contact us for any questions or bookings.

One for the kids.
The Bubblemaker program introduces the incredible underwater world to our younger adventurers.

Bubblemakers get a chance to:

• Experience scuba diving under the direct care and supervision of a PADI Pro.
• Take their first breaths underwater in water shallower than 2 metres/6 feet.
• Learn about and use scuba diving equipment made for children – not adults.
• Have lots of fun on experience their new adventure.

What scuba gear will your child use?

In the Bubblemaker program, participants get a basic introduction to how to use scuba gear, how to clear a regulator and mask, and an overview of breathing.

Under the constant supervision of one of our instructors, the day will begin with an informative briefing on Scuba Diving and the equipment use.
The highlight of the day is the excitement of the fun and games in the sea while breathing underwater for the first time in full Scuba gear for children

Duration: half day
Depth:  2 metres/6 feet
Diver Prerequisites: 8 -10 yrs old
Basic swimming skills

Diving at night is a whole new experience, as day creatures retire and nocturnal organisms emerge.

While diving at night you can discover a different side of our underwater world. Explore a new, exciting underwater environment, as many marine animals are nocturnal.

Bali is the dive site we have chosen for this exciting and amazing experience, its protected bay allows us to admire with safety the nocturnal marine life that “comes out” during the hours of darkness, such as: Octopus, Lobster, Morey, and many others.

Night diving definitely changes the way we see marine life.

The experience and calmness of night diving cannot be compared with any other form of scuba diving. It is completely different. Dive slowly at night and you will find it exciting and relaxing at the same time.

Night diving can be a breathtaking and fascinating act. So what is stopping you? Contact us for more information or bookings.

DISCOVER SCUBA DIVING

Add a once in a life time experience into your vacations, by discovering the exciting underwater world Crete’s.
Take the first step into a new world and scuba dive with us for the 1st time!

KALIVAKI BEACH located in Georgioupolis, a 25min drive from Rethmyno town, is the sheltered bay we are visiting for our Discover Scuba Diving program. Rated as one of the top beaches of Crete on Tripadvisor!

We chose this bay for our second dive base as it provides the perfect conditions for our beginner divers, it has sandy shore waters, great visibility and pretty oceanography with plenty small marine life to admire.

We start the day with our pick up service from your Hotel at around 8.30 am. If you prefer to meet us straight at our dive center no.2 in Georgioupolis simply let us know.
Once we arrive at our Dive base in Georgioupolis, we welcome our guest with coffee & beverages while filling up some paper forms.

We will then start with a small briefing about basic Scuba diving skills and safety guidelines needed before going into the sea.
After completing the theoretical part we will prepare your Scuba gear for the underwater adventure.  
Once you start feeling comfortable with your Scuba gear on, we start the dive from the shore to a maximum depth of 6 metres.

We will spend approximately 45min under water enjoying the beautiful scenery and silence under the sea.
Marine life we happen to see in Kalivaki bay are juvenile groupers, octopuses, rainbow wrasses, flounder fishes, sea stars, sea basses, seahorses and many more…

We deliver high standards in diver training with professional service, safety and value.
Discover scuba diving is perfect for those who want to discover how it’s like to breath underwater, connect with nature, make life-long friends and enjoy a unique experience.

You will learn:

• Basic scuba skills
• Underwater communication signals
• Equipment purpose
                                           

You just can’t get enough? After completing this first dive, you can choose to follow us to a second dive and maximize your experience! The maximum depth of the second dive is 12 meters and you get to explore with much more confidence the blue  underwater paradise. This dive has an additional cost.


Duration: half day
Minimum age: 10 yrs +
Prerequisites: basic swimming skills, fit for diving

TEACH THE WORLD HOW TO DIVE

Make your dreams come true and contact us for the opportunity to become a dive professional! Combine your work with lots of fun & participate in our IDC that will teach you everything you need to know to become a successful PADI Open Water Diver Instructor. 

If you have a passion for scuba diving, you like people, got tired of your 9-5 job and want an extraordinary life – become a PADI Instructor. Teaching scuba diving allows you to share your love of the underwater world with others while doing what you enjoy – being in, around and under water. PADI Open Water Scuba Instructors and PADI Assistant Instructors are the most “wanted” dive professionals around the world because they’ve completed the program that sets the standard for training dive professionals. You earn a PADI Instructor rating through hard work and commitment, but you’re rewarded with a job that lets you share incredible underwater adventures with others, transforming their lives for the better and enriching yours.

The Instructor Development Course (IDC) is made up of two parts – the Assistant Instructor (AI) course and the Open Water Scuba Instructor (OWSI) program. Most dive professionals complete the entire IDC and go on to attend an Instructor Examination (IE), which is the final step to earn a PADI Instructor certification.

A PADI Divemaster who has been a certified diver for six months may enroll in the PADI Instructor Development Course. You also need:

• At least 60 logged dives and 100 dives to attend an IE.
• Emergency First Response Primary and Secondary Care (CPR and First Aid) training within the past 24 months.
• A medical statement signed by a physician within the last 12 months
• Be an Emergency First Response Instructor, but you can earn this rating during your instructor training.

Academic

In seven days, the IDC teaches you to conduct all PADI core courses. You’ll be able to organize and present information, conduct skill development sessions and control open water dives. With the days passing, you become a better public speaker and get really good at demonstrating skills while watching out for student diver safety.
Key topics include:

• PADI Standards and Procedures for courses you can teach with in water workshops
• Learning, Instruction and the PADI System
• Risk Management and Diver Safety
• The Business of Diving and your role as an instructor
• Marketing Diving and Sales Counseling

Participate in our IDC course starting every year & teach the world how to dive.
Next Dates are 5.3.2022-14.3.2022 & November 2022

Get the best training from experienced course director in Greece.
Feel free to contact us for further assistance or any questions you may have.